Tuesday, February 23, 2010

As cool as cucumber


Post 34 Keep your cool

Since the days I was taught Figures of Speech in school, I have inculcated an interest in this part of the English language. The most commonly used Figures of Speech are ‘Similes’ and ‘Metaphors’. They add variety to written as well as spoken expression of the language.

Some common similes in common everyday use which I have associated with my life experiences are: as clear as crystal, as easy as A.B.C., as fresh as sea breeze, as loud as a horn, as rough as a storm, as shapeless as an old shoe and many others. However, I have special attachment to the one on ‘as cool as cucumber’.

It is always very cooling and comfortable when, after sleeping for many hours on a pillow, one turns it over and sleeps on the other side. The similes of ‘as cool as cucumber’ can then be changed to ‘as cool as the other side of the pillow’. It aptly describes the cool feeing of one lying on a cool pillow.

It is an art for one to be able to keep cool under pressure or criticism. One ought to take things calmly and not be overcome with emotion. When one learns how to remain unruffled in times of stress and strain, one’s problems will be solved more rationally.

Keep your cool and you will be a happier and healthier person.


23 February 2010

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Value judgment


Post 33 Leaving money behind after having eaten the dates

During the Song dynasty, there was a man by the name of Cha Dao (查道) who was on the way to visit his relatives at a distant place. During lunch time he and his servant were hungry and there was no eating place around. His servant then suggested that some food brought along by them to be given to the relatives be taken out to be eaten.

However Cha Dao objected and said, “How can we do that since the food is meant to be given as gifts to others? We must be trustworthy.”

When the hungry duo finally reached a date orchard, they wasted no time picking some of the dates to fill their stomach. After they had had their fill, Cha Dao took out a string of money and hung it on the tree from which they had picked the dates.

The servant then asked his master, “Why are you doing this? After all the owner is not here and nobody would have seen us.”

Cha Dao then said to his servant, “Though the owner may not be here and no one could have seen us, it is our moral obligation to be trustworthy. Now that we have eaten the dates, we ought to pay for them.”

Nevertheless, the action of Cha Dao picking the dates without permission may still be questionable.

16 February 2010

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

A straight line and a circle


Post 32 Encouraging learning

Xunzi was an ancient philosopher and educationist whose essay on Encourage Learning written 2000 years ago is still applicable today. A small part of its contents is discussed here for our mutual encouragement.

A piece of wood can become perfectly straight if it is planed according to the line marked by the inked measuring string. When the same piece of wood is treated with heat to make it look like a wheel, then its roundness should befit that of a circle drawn by a pair of compasses.

If the same piece of wood were to be heated again or be dried under the scorching sun, it will never become straight again. This is so because that piece of wood has been processed to make it round.

Xunzi was trying to put forward his view that the environmental factor is important in making a person to be knowledgeable. Just like a knife and a sword can only become sharp when they are grinded on stones, one must therefore be steadfast in one’s learning and go through countless difficulties and hardships to excel in life.

Knowledge is accumulated day by day in lifelong learning.

9 February 2010

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

An amusing play on words


Post 31 The ability to express oneself in a humorous way

During the Tang Dynasty ( 618 - 907 ), there was a child prodigy by the name of Liu Yan (刘晏). When he was eight years old, he was summoned to have an audience with the then Emperor Tang Xuan Zong (唐玄宗). The emperor was so impressed with the talent of Liu Yan that he appointed the boy genius to the post of what we call ‘editor’ today.

Once when the ten-year-old Liu Yan was summoned to the palace, he was asked by the emperor, “In regular writings, how many words can be written neatly and correctly?”
Liu Yan then answered," All the words under heaven can be written well, except for the word 'friends’ (朋 ) which can never be written properly.”

There is punning on the word ‘friends’ which has a double meaning here. When Liu Yan specifically mentioned the word ‘friends’, he was insinuating that when cronies or close friends were given special privileges at the expense of justice and fair play, the word ‘friends’ could never be written correctly and rightly. It will look crooked no matter how it is written.

By manifesting a keen insight into matters like corruption and favouritism at the age of ten, Liu Yan had shown himself to be a child of extraordinary charm and wit.

2 February 2010